North Korean Workers Embedded in DeFi Protocols Exposed

An investigation by an on-chain analyst has uncovered a significant security concern in the crypto industry. The research suggests that North Korean IT workers have been embedded in numerous DeFi protocols, some of which have been compromised in high-profile hacks.

The analysis, conducted by Tay, identified over 40 projects that had DPRK-linked developers working on them, including major players such as SushiSwap and Harmony. These workers not only contributed to the development of these protocols but also potentially extracted significant sums from them.

According to the researcher, at least $6.7 billion has been extracted from the industry through this approach. The investigation highlights a structural problem within the industry, where North Korean IT workers have infiltrated major companies and embedded themselves in their architecture.